Press Releases

COLUMBUS – Today Governor John R. Kasich signed the following bills into law:

HB 300 (Baker, Manning) modifies the law governing the termination or modification of a lifetime driver's license suspension or a class two suspension that exceeds fifteen years, specifies that a class one driver's license suspension for a specified aggravated vehicular homicide offense begins upon the offender's release from prison, and expands the purposes for which limited driving privileges may be granted during a driver's license suspension.

SB 225 (Bacon) designates the first day of June as "Hypoparathyroidism Awareness Day."

SB 232 (Bacon) amends the law related to transfer on death designation deeds and affidavits and makes changes in the probate and trust laws regarding the inheritance and beneficial rights of after born or pretermitted children or heirs.

SB 127 (Lehner, Hottinger) prohibits the performance of an abortion on a pregnant woman when the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is twenty weeks or greater.

Am. Sub. HB 493 (Sears, Ryan) makes changes in the child abuse and neglect reporting law, to generally prohibit an abortion of an unborn human individual with a detectable heartbeat, to create the Joint Legislative Committee on Adoption Promotion and Support, and to make an appropriation.

Veto Message

Kasich vetoed certain provisions of Am. Sub. HB 493. The text of his veto message can be foundhere and following this press release.

This quote is attributable to Gov. John R. Kasich:

“I agree with Ohio Right to Life and other leading, pro-life advocates that SB 127 is the best, most legally sound and sustainable approach to protecting the sanctity of human life.”

As governor, John Kasich has continued his support for pro-life policies and has signed into law legislation banning late-term abortions, elective abortions in public, taxpayer hospitals, and funding for abortions through public employee health plans. During his term as governor, abortions in Ohio have dropped to the lowest level in almost 40 years.

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VETO MESSAGES

STATEMENT OF THE REASONS FOR THE VETO OF ITEMS IN AMENDED SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 493

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DECEMBER 13, 2016

Pursuant to Article II, Section 16 of the Ohio Constitution, which states that the Governor may disapprove any items in a bill making an appropriation of money, I hereby disapprove the following items contained in Amended Substitute House Bill 483 and set forth below the reasons for so doing. The text I am disapproving is identified in this message by reference to the corresponding page and boxed text of the bill.

ITEM NUMBER 1

On page 1, in the preamble, delete the following boxed text, beginning with “2317.56 . . .,” and “4731.22,” and beginning with “to amend, for the purpose of . . .”, and beginning with “to generally prohibit . . .,” and in Section 1, beginning with “2317.56. . .,” and “4731.22,” and beginning with “sections 2919.191 (2919.192) . . .”, and “be enacted”.

On page 13, delete the boxed text.

On page 14, delete the boxed text.

On page 15, delete the boxed text.

On page 16, delete the boxed text.

On page 17, delete the boxed text.

On page 18, delete the boxed text.

On page 19, delete the boxed text.

On page 20, delete the boxed text.

On page 21, delete the boxed text.

On page 22, delete the boxed text.

On page 23, delete the boxed text.

On page 24, delete the boxed text.

On page 25, delete the boxed text.

On page 26, delete the boxed text.

On page 27, delete the boxed text.

On page 28, delete the boxed text.

On page 29, delete the boxed text.

On page 30, delete the boxed text.

On page 31, delete the boxed text.

On page 32, delete the boxed text.

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On page 35, delete the boxed text.

On page 36, delete the boxed text.

On page 42, in Section 2, delete the following boxed text, beginning with “2317.56. . .” and “4731.22,”.

Prohibition of Abortion at Certain Stage of Development

As governor I have worked hard to strengthen Ohio’s protections for the sanctity of human life, and I have a deep respect for my fellow members of the pro-life community and their ongoing efforts in defense of unborn life. Certain provisions that were amended into Am. Sub. HB 493, however, are clearly contrary to the Supreme Court of the United States’ current rulings on abortion.

Similar legislation enacted in two other states has twice been declared unconstitutional by federal judges, and the Supreme Court declined to review those decisions. Because the federal courts are bound to follow the Supreme Court’s rulings on abortion, the amendment to Am. Sub. HB 493 will be struck down. The State of Ohio will be the losing party in that lawsuit and, as the losing party, the State of Ohio will be forced to pay hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to cover the legal fees for the pro-choice activists’ lawyers. Furthermore, such a defeat invites additional challenges to Ohio’s strong legal protections for unborn life. Therefore, this veto is in the public interest.

ITEM NUMBER 2

On page 1, delete the following boxed text, “and to make an appropriation.”

Appropriation for the Department of Jobs and Family Services for Adoption Services

This item appropriates an additional $100,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Jobs and Family Services (“the Department”) for adoption services. While I strongly support the promotion of adoption and have worked to expand adoption supports and efforts in my Administration, the Department currently has sufficient funds in the current budget for these purposes. Accordingly, additional appropriation for adoption services is not warranted at this time. Therefore, this veto is in the public interest.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of the State of Ohio to be affixed at Columbus this 13th day of December, Two Thousand Sixteen.

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John R. Kasich, Governor

This will acknowledge the receipt of a copy of this veto message of Amended Substitute House Bill 493 that was disapproved in part by Governor John R. Kasich on December 13, 2016.